Geisinger pharmacy recognized for patient care in aftermath of storms

DANVILLE, Pa. – The Geisinger Medical Center (GMC) System Therapeutics Department was recently awarded the Chief Executive Officer's Award for Courageous Service by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). The GMC department received the award during the opening session of ASHP's 2012 Summer Meeting in Baltimore, Md. for its efforts to serve patients following catastrophic flooding in 2011.

In September 2011, the northeast and central regions of Pennsylvania were faced with historic flooding along the Susquehanna River and its tributaries. During the worst part of the flooding, GMC was completely isolated for nearly 72 hours. Helicopters brought in supplies and patients from smaller hospitals in the area.

The staff in the System Therapeutics department, which includes about 150 pharmacists and technicians across four hospitals, did everything it could to maintain patient care. Staff on site volunteered to stay and those who were not working called in to see if they were needed. Staff members who could not travel to work because of road closures conducted order verification and review from home, freeing up on-site staff for other important duties. Staff worked extended shifts, some staying overnight at the hospital and others staying with colleagues who graciously opened their homes to those who knew they had just lost everything they owned in the flood.

After the waters receded, the staff joined other Geisinger medical staff volunteers in providing healthcare in the community, including providing tetanus vaccines and drug information counseling, and assisting with flood clean up.

Established in 2000, the ASHP Chief Executive Officer's Award for Courageous Service recognizes individuals or groups of individuals in health-system pharmacy who go beyond the call or assignment of duty to serve patients or assist pharmacists in serving patients, under emergency conditions or in times of natural disaster or other cataclysmic events. The award honors incidents of inspiring, unselfish service under adverse conditions.